Seeking Mambo Sauce
Saturday August 2, 2003
MASCOT3 Writes:
"There used to be a rib joint in Indy called Zeb's. The ribs at that place were legendary, but the resteraunt closed down after Zeb passed away. (Such a shame! He seemed like such a nice man every time I went in there ... and I was in there weekly!)
Does anyone have a recipe for Mambo Sauce? It was the bbq sauce Zeb used."
Comments
mambo sauce is a DC-area thing for the most part. i think he had gotten his recipe from out east – and it was really good, i ate there several times before he closed.
here is a really good base recipe for mambo sauce.. of course you can alter/adjust it to your liking.
3 parts tabasco
2 parts sweet+sour sauce
3 parts ketchup
I just tried this recipe. It is nothing like Zeb’s Original Mambo Sauce from 38th & Keystone, Indianapolis.
Zeb’s didn’t use so much vineger based pepper sauce. His sauce had very little noticable vinegar/Tabasco flavor. Zeb’s was dominated by tomato & other subtle spices…almost fruity.
Mambo Sauce seemed more Carribean to me???
Mambo Sauce remindes me of a cross between King Rib’s sauce and Pattie’s of Jamacia’s pattie sauce (Doctored-up catsup).
Not sure if it’s the one you’re looking for, but I picked up some Mambo Sauce here in Atlanta. It’s from a bbq spot in Pennsylvania. Here’s the website where you can purchase or inquire about. http://www.mitchellbrothersbbq.com/
All I know is that we have traveled the world as a militart family and Zeb’s bbq is what we gauge all other ribs by. We grew up eating Zeb’s, and in our 23 years of travel, we have had some really good ribs, as well as some lousy ones, and on a few occasions believed some folks should be banned from EVER lighting a grill again! I do know that the mild Mambo sauce was not with a vinegar or hot sauce base. I do recall a hint of fruit juice –perhaps a touch of orange or possibly pinapple? Nonetheless, I am interested in finding the sauce. Too bad no one worked to keep the business moving forward! It IS/WAS the BEST!!!
The guy that made it is from Gary, Indiana and had a resturant on 13th Ave called Archie B’s. I don’t know what is in that stuff, but I still crave it. i haven’t had it in 15 years!
This may be what you are looking for:
mumbobbqsauce.com
real DC mambo sauce def has mad vinegar in it, ive been trying to figure it out for years and ketchup, tabasco, and sweet and sour sounds about right.
1 cup ketchup
1 cup sugar
1 tablespoon Hungarian paprika
3 tablespoons hot sauce
3 tablespoons water
4 tablespoons white vinegar
I agree, I still have never found a sauce as good as Zeb’s he was the best, The owner told me that three or four people in his family had the receipe so it is out there some where. I was also told he got it from the original Zeb’s owner. We have some good BBQ in town but nothing as good as Zeb’s and his home made Hot Links were unlike anything you get today and what you get today doesn’t compare to what he had. Glad others miss it as much as I do
Tamara has it right. Zeb must have been from Washington. Ketchup, Sugar, Water and Hot Sauce. This is a DC thing. Zeb may have added paprika.
WE ARE FROM NE DC AND IT IS AMAZING THAT KNOW ONE IN THE PHILA. AREA ,SUBURBS INCLUDED WITH ALL THE CARRYOUTS NO ONE KNOWS ABOUT MAMBO SAUCE
OK everyone…The DC Mambo Sauce is NOT the same product as Zeb’s Original Mambo Sauce in Indianapolis. They have the same name, but are NOT the same things.
Oh please someone…BRING BACK ZEB’S ! ! !
This is for Rod Johnson: My husband loved Zebs Mambo Sauce too. He has searched high & low for a replacement sauce. How close are you to finding one?
pineapple juice.
My dad used a Mambo sauce at his restaraunts in SOUTH BEND, INDIANA. His name was Ralph “MOON” Mullins with a BBQ place on Western Avenue in 1960’s. I am opening a place in Atlanta using the same touch and Mambo style recipie. Can someone help me find Derby’s Original BBQ Sauce?
I ate Zeb’s once in ‘88 and still weep thinking about it. Very sorry to hear he passed away.
My parent’s owned Zebs BBQ in Indianapolis. They are both gone now. I am working on putting the Mambo Sauce on the market by mid-2010. The Derby Sauce is no longer available. I am also working on developing a Derby-like product, also to be available in 2010 as a wholesale food service item.
Way to go Geri!!!!
I tried your recipe Tamara and made minor changes. I then went to on of the take away spots here in DC and you got it. Thanks!